This is a discussion on How to deal with emotions in Poker? within the online poker forums, in the General Poker section; All tips are welcome!
Examples (these are still easy actually):
1. Lose with AA all in against some gambler J7 or something.
2. Go all in AA

After this kind of situations some of us start doing nervous emotional moves and act emotionally..

So any tips how to stay calm and not act emotionally? All tips are welcome here guys.

tip...dont all in with AA ever always seem to be bad luck

#3

24th September 2015, 10:33 PM

demibar [538]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

i know the feeling i try myself to control my emotions by thinking the raison i lost the hand ,thinking my next hand but not always work i lose my patience and lost the game if you try to remember that losing your patience meaning losing the whole game maybe you can play better ...i used to see some video of poker just to be inspired and not thinking what happened to the previous

#4

25th September 2015, 12:19 AM

lcid86 [949]

Poker at: Carbon

Game: holdem

The more you play, the more you see. Eventually, it gets a lot easier to deal with the craziness. It's gonna happen, you just need to shake it off and prepare for the next hand.

#5

25th September 2015, 5:31 AM

goddyvips007 [44]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: holdem

We all are human and a poker pro also have an emotion too.If you have a AA and the opponent won with some 23 than laugh at yourself and appreciate the opponent move.It will encourage you to play more seriously.

#6

25th September 2015, 6:02 AM

victory22422 [107]

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

Its not easy, but if you want to be a pro poker player, you must to keep calm in different situations. Not only in poker. Our life is unpredictable and there are a lot of stressful situation. So dont think about fails and your life will be better and easier Good luck!

AA is the best starting hand and you're going to win a lot more with them than you lose. However, you will lose at times and it's just part of the game. Against all hands, except AA vs AA, you're about an 80% favorite to win.

So, don't sweat the times you'll lose because it's going to happen. Just take note and know that that player is going to pay you off more often when you have big hands.

Funny thing, I just lost with AA while I was replying to this in a tournament. It didn't bother me because I got my hand in good while they only had TP/TK and was drawing to a backdoor flush. They hit the flush, but oh, well. I'm happy to get it in there.

Even funnier is they cold-called my 3bet with As10s for more than 60% of their stack and then open shoved a 10 high board.

#8

25th September 2015, 7:12 AM

dnegsisabadreg [163]

Poker at: ACR

Game: NLHE

Avoid having emotions. Emotions are -EV. Just play your hands the best way you know how and move on with your life no matter how the board runs out. Freaking out over some bad beat doesn't do you any good. Try to imagine you're a zen poker playing robot.

#9

25th September 2015, 1:03 PM

joe777 [2,716]

Listening to music while playing can calm you down a little bit.Never mix your emotion with poker.

#10

25th September 2015, 1:17 PM

babaji [26]

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

Always remember that if you have a chip and a chair you can always come back from any beat, but is it a beat pre-flopping? Not in my books it's a race unless of course you have AsAh and other player has AcAd and 4 clubs hit the board.....now that is a bad beat which happened to me last week, but I had chips left and made my way into the money.
Stay calm and pick your hands always remembering to keep an eye on the range of cards others are playing, you will find your calling station who will pretty much double you up in the right position. Good luck.

#11

25th September 2015, 2:09 PM

ccocco [460]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: game to all

Hello, I recommend you go with strong cards, but that does not guarantee you win. but always with caution according to the flop, and if you have AA and the flop strip project straight or flush .. carefully .. we must also take into account the position as closer to the button ranges hands you can play

Ian Taylor and Matthew Hilger have co authored a book that provides the reader with an ideal source document to better explain the complex mental side of poker. The meat of the text (for this reader), is when they dive into subjects such as tilt, bankroll, downswings and getting into the mind of your opponents.
With the authors’ permission, I’d like to provide an example of how they describe the underlying attitudes or “stages” associated with handling a bad beat:
“To further illustrate the difference between the stages, let’s look at a limit hand example from the point of view of a representative player we will call Rick.
Rick is dealt Ad Kh in middle position. He open raises, the player on the button re-raises, and the big blind calls, as does Rick.
The flop is Ac Kd 8s. The big blind checks, as does Rick. The button bets, the big blind calls, and Rick check-raises. Both opponents call.
The turn is a 9c. The big blind checks, Rick bets, the button folds, and the big blind calls.
The river is a 6c. The big blind now bets, Rick calls, and his opponent shows 7d 5d for a backdoor straight.

How will Rick respond to this hand? It all depends on what stage he is at.

Stage 1 – I can’t believe it! What was he thinking about calling all those bets? He had nothing the entire hand and lucked out. What an idiot! This always happens to me, it’s so unfair! I’m going to do my best to get back at him and win my chips back.

Stage 2 – What a bad beat! Losing an eleven big bet pot to a suckout like that really hurts. How can you win at this game when players call down with garbage and then hit? I know in the long term he will lose all his money, but I really needed that pot. That has put me in a real hole!

Stage 3 – Ouch! Oh well, that’s poker I suppose. If he keeps playing like that, I will take his money in the long term, so I just have to be patient. I’ll make sure I remember that he is a calling station and play accordingly. I wonder if there was any way of winning that pot had I played differently.

Stage 4 - Okay, I now know that the guy on the big blind will call down with pretty much anything, so I will take that into account from now on. I wonder what the button had. Maybe he had JJ or TT. It’s worth knowing that he will make a continuation bet in that situation. Maybe I should have bet out on the flop in the hope that the button would have raised? That might have driven the big blind out, although I’m not sure I want to drive him out if he’s willing to pay off all those bets with such a weak hand.

As you can see, Rick has two advantages when he is at stage 3 or 4. First, he accepts the result of the hand and so is less likely to go on tilt, and second, he is using his time more productively to think about the things that really matter. These are two good reasons why every player should want to move beyond the lower stages to reach these levels of thinking.”
After blogging this excerpt at www.pokerschoolonline.com, I asked the members if they would like to share their view on which stage they could relate to themselves and here is a sampling:

• “I'm usually in Stage 3 most of the time, sometimes in stage 4, although if I have been playing a while, and particularly in several tourneys at once, I go on tilt more easily.”
• “We can know all the math and all of the angles, but learning how to control our emotions and going to the tables prepared takes a lot of practice and discipline.”
• “Definitely stage 1, I try to reach stage 3 which I do for most of the time, then some outrageous things happen and I fall down to one. I still got work to do, so does everyone else, even if they think not.”
• “I am usually stage 3, I do say a mental ouch or something a bit more colorful but I don't let a bad beat affect my play though I will often pretend it has put me on tilt to get more action on my big hands.”

As you can see, just this excerpt fueled a bevy of responses and interaction between members which lead to more curiosity and critical discovery.
The Taylor/Hilger book allows the reader to see a situation from many angles; including angles that most beginners are unaware exist. The advice is sound, rationale, and on point. If you are going to add a new book to your poker library, pick up a copy of “The Poker Mindset” and consider it another piece of the puzzle found.

Book Review

Are You Your Worst Poker Enemy?

Your Worst Poker Enemy by Dr. Alan Schoonmaker, PhD, tackles issues associated with logical thinking as it relates to the psychological impact of playing poker. Dr. Schoonmaker replicates the rollercoaster ride poker players experience by addressing such subjects as head games, varying emotions, irrational thinking, and sometimes even exaggerated masculinity (machismo) which players endure on a daily or regular basis both online and live.

This author is quick to point out: “I’m not a poker expert. I’m a psychologist who plays for moderate stakes and writes about poker psychology. I rarely give advice about playing specific cards because many people can do it better.” To this end he stays true to his word and provides the reader, insights, which include, recommendations on how to deal with emotional instability and suggestions on logical thinking while in stressful situations (can seem like every hand) during play.

He has the ability to “remind” you of the exact emotion a player feels when handling a tough beat or when there is significant damage to his bankroll and there is the instant awakening: “This is me he is talking about; I’d better reread that page again.”

Dr. Schoonmaker takes the readers attention into the much feared conditions of: running bad, anger, arrogance, paranoia, tilt, losing streaks, aggravations, denial and not knowing when to quit. His ability to recreate the “conditions” that each of us face at one time or another is uncanny and makes us want to read more on how to combat these obstacles to “winning poker.”

There were a few passages in particular that rang so true to me by my own observations at PSO (PokerSchoolOnline.com) and other poker internet sites as well as live play. Specifically, “If you listen, a few dummies will tell you exactly how to beat them.”
The Dr. illustrates with these examples:
• “I’m not aggressive. I won’t raise unless I’m almost certain I’ve got a winner.”
• “I’ll always bet on the flop if I’m last and nobody has bet.”
• “I’ll call all the way with anything, if a pot is big enough, but I’m not willing to make loose calls for small pots.”
• “I never check-raise because I believe in betting my own hands.”

The last chapter primarily concentrates on the degree of seriousness to which a player should take poker and I found his observations and recommendations to be spot-on. In particular, not allowing poker playing to take over your life, setting your priorities, questioning if you are doing yourself harm with over-indulgence, making sure you are playing “within your means and in the right comfort zone,” and finally, deciding on options to diversify and balance your life.

After reading Your Worst Poker Enemy, a member at PSO offered this statement:

“This is a must read. In fact it is an excellent book for anybody whether they play poker or not. Mastering the mental game is something everybody can use whether you are competing at Poker, in sports, at other games or trying to advance in your job. If you are honest with yourself after reading this book you will gain a better understanding of yourself and why we do things that are counterproductive. This will lead you into playing your “A” game more consistently and give you an understanding of why your opponents are playing the way they do. I would strongly suggest this book to anybody who finds themselves in a competitive situation. (Tulio Braz, aka Sabbath).

Recommended reading of Dr. Schoonmaker’s book is not only essential for you to compliment your experience and table skills, it should be mandatory for all players who display the emotional instability to perform and sustain excellence associated with playing at the top of their game. My library of poker books is hardly complete; however, with the addition of “Your Worst Poker Enemy,” I have enriched my mind as well as my book shelf collection.

#13

27th September 2015, 3:23 PM

Tu Ng [85]

Thanks for the recommendation for "The Poker Mindset" and "Your Worst Poker Enemy". I just ordered "Your Worst Poker Enemy". Going to be a interesting read.

#14

27th September 2015, 3:30 PM

thetick33 [886]

Poker at: acr

Game: holdem

re: Poker & How to deal with emotions in Poker?

practice your breathing techniques this helps also in health practice breathing in like tai chi or yoga both forms can be used sitting on chairs even to get a decent work out from them i use both for fixing my health issues and the calmness i use at big tournaments etc.. or live play.

i see myself being the winner when i start any tournament i envision winning and being congratulated this might help too just a couple suggestions

#15

27th September 2015, 4:22 PM

debriz [311]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Omaha

Just stroll around or just drink beer and sleep. Wake up and face another challenge. It's always an advantage to play if your mind get relax. Remember if there no lose or defeats, it's not a game!

#16

27th September 2015, 6:10 PM

11012015 [269]

A lot depends on you. From your mood.

#17

27th September 2015, 9:44 PM

arborest [83]

Online Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Holdem

Thanks guys for this useful information! Seems like the biggest enemy in poker is myself and my mind. And also thanks for the recommendation for 'The Poker Mindset'.

#18

28th September 2015, 8:21 PM

sunshine0410 [57]

I think it's like every where else in life, sometimes you win and sometimes you loose. A good player stands above the loss! Don't give up and continue. Next time you will be the winner.

#19

28th September 2015, 8:58 PM

SlavaUa [192]

Online Poker at: Poker Stars

Game: Holdem

Quote:

Originally Posted by arborest

All tips are welcome!

Examples (these are still easy actually):
1. Lose with AA all in against some gambler J7 or something.

After this kind of situations some of us start doing nervous emotional moves and act emotionally..

So any tips how to stay calm and not act emotionally? All tips are welcome here guys.

Don't play freerolls cause i don't know what to do with this tilt))) If i am not right, write! to me)))

#20

29th September 2015, 5:41 AM

veronica [511]

Poker at: pokerstars

Poker is a game of strong emotions and often fail to control our nerves razón.Los usually present during a game in almost all poker players and the player who manifested not feel fear or nerves in the poker table in principle lies . In any case, the issue is not " do not feel" fear, but knowing control . Or better yet, disimularlo.Estos feelings , as any primary reaction of man, are involuntary . It can not be avoided but if disimurlase and make them less intense with practice and experience.

#21

29th September 2015, 6:54 AM

9betterluck9 [74]

Game: PLO8 NLHE

re: Poker & How to deal with emotions in Poker?

I know it really sucks when variance seems to be constantly kicking your butt.. I always just try to find the silver lining in it.. By that I mean, knowing that bad beats will, and are going to happen. And by looking at the positive, you are getting your money in good. In the long run, you will be winning these hands more often then you are losing them. Meaning you want these calls, just have to take the good with the bad is all. Good luck in the future.

#22

29th September 2015, 6:59 AM

aolguin3 [524]

When ever I get on tilt I just stop playing and just fold every hand until I get something like AA or KK , QQ but won't play anything else until I get cooled off.

#23

1st October 2015, 8:18 PM

kokumcito1 [7]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

How do we remove emotion from Poker?

It's good or bad ? but it's so hard don't get a big smile when you get AA - preflop

#24

1st October 2015, 8:57 PM

Esanu [348]

Poker at: PokerStars

Game: Holdem

Smile when you will receive 7 2 !Simply, always smile!

#25

2nd October 2015, 12:25 AM

therealslomo [113]

Online Poker at: PokerStars

Game: All games

Emotion isn't bad, just have to learn to control it and use it to your advantage.

#26

2nd October 2015, 12:40 AM

mariel619 [249]

Poker at: ACR

Game: Holdem

for me its going thru IT, the ups and the down.
it takes time to get use to it at first, sometimes those
bad beats beat you up when a lot is on the line,
those ups are nice though.

#27

2nd October 2015, 4:18 AM

Robert Bonilla [8]

Control and hone your emotion to make good decisions. Feel play is and always will be a strong component in poker.

#28

2nd October 2015, 6:47 AM

WinglessSoldier [58]

re: Poker & How to deal with emotions in Poker?

You can't remove your emotions. you're just going to have play a lot of poker until your use to the variance.

You can't remove emotion, but I think it's definitely easier depending on the image you show at the table.

At the tables, I'm very social and having a good time. So, I'm always laughing, chatting it up, cracking jokes, etc. I try to give off a light, fun image of someone who is just there to have a good time. I'll crack jokes like 'If I get aces next hand, I'm raising it.' And then I'll raise it with ATC and say 'you all better fold, I got ya!' The same goes for my bad beats, I always laugh it off and say 'nice hand'. So, it's hard to put me on a type of hand when my image is pretty much the same.

I think if you're playing really quietly, not socializing, just really concentrating, it's a lot harder to hide your emotions (if you're not used to it) because you're concentrating so hard on being stone faced, not showing any emotion, that when you do get a big hand, it could possibly be hard to hide the emotion.

Heck, in your case, smile with every hand you get. You don't have to play each hand, but you can smile and say 'next time' as you fold.

#30

3rd October 2015, 2:47 PM

johnxaitafe [84]

Poker at: pokerstars,

Game: holdem

emotions

controlling your emotions is very important especially in live poker but many times so hard to find...

#31

4th October 2015, 4:44 PM

diserg1 [38]

The best advice at the onset of tilt will simply close the poker client. Poker tomorrow will be the same as today.

#32

4th October 2015, 4:56 PM

scorpion1367 [793]

Poker at: pokerstars

Game: all poker

Never ever ever assume you are entitled to the pot just because you were ahead when all the money went in ,there is always a chance you can lose if your advantage is not 100%.Entitlement tilt is the worst kind if you feel it take a break,cause bad beats are gonna happen the better you prepare your mind for them the less it will effect you emotionally........scorp

#33

4th October 2015, 5:22 PM

Makwa [6,081]

Online Poker at: chinatown

Game: all of em

If you get it all in with the best hand that is the best you can do. If you get outdrawn is just the luck of the draw. Emotions do not enter into it. Unless you invite them to.

#34

5th October 2015, 7:20 AM

guch [43]

Its just daily routine youve get pissed off each time but the more you play the less you start to care about losing to 30% or even less. Its like wakin n brushing you teeth you gotta do it and nothing new happens sometime you suck out to so nothing personal its win win if you keep making right decisions

#35

5th October 2015, 7:37 AM

4soul [476]

Online Poker at: FTP

Game: Pot holdem

re: Poker & How to deal with emotions in Poker?

i will chat them: ""wow man! ure sick! i really want to know u in real life lol!!!"" just post positive things will give you the atm to pass the tilt emotions